Wiktionary
n. 1 A scent laid down to distract a predator that hunts by smell from the scent trail of its prey. 2 (context writing English) A misleading expectation created by ambiguous writing
Wikipedia
A false scent or false trail is an incorrect scent which may mislead an animal which hunts by smell, especially a hound. This may be the result of deliberate interference by a hunt saboteur or it may be a form of control by the master. Aniseed, a red herring or the entrails of a rabbit are commonly used for this purpose.
Usage examples of "false scent".
A few weeks later, during a February thaw when there is a false scent of spring to the woods around our city of Grabow, we -- the men in the camp -- are loaded into vans.
But instead of using my brain to explain the phantom, I went off along a false scent of drugged food and drink.
Everyone had given up by now except Seregil, who'd grown increasingly short-tempered as he pursued one false scent after another.
While the pursuing soldiers followed a false scent, my master's men returned to their camp, from which, later, in a new direction, they might make their departure.
While the pursuing soldiers followed a false scent, my master’.
One plunged after him into the hills, and he had heard them go by on a false scent.